Bridgeport, Ohio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An old bridge in Bridgeport

Bridgeport is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,186 at the 2000 census. It lies across the Ohio River from Wheeling, West Virginia, and is connected by two bridges to Wheeling Island in the Ohio River.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Notable natives and residents
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Bridgeport is located at 40°4′20″N, 80°44′37″W (40.072092, -80.743542)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.6 km² (1.4 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,186 people, 973 households, and 586 families residing in the village. The population density was 607.2/km² (1,569.0/mi²). There were 1,090 housing units at an average density of 302.8/km² (782.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 90.81% White, 7.55% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.

There were 973 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the village the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $25,685, and the median income for a family was $33,231. Males had a median income of $24,156 versus $18,333 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,723. About 11.5% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Notable natives and residents

Distinguished athletes:

John Havlicek, NBA basketball player and Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, three-sport standout at Bridgeport High School. Bridgeport high school's Gymnasium is also named after Havlicek.
Phil Niekro, Major League Baseball Baseball Hall of Fame, learned knuckleball while at Bridgeport High School.
Joe Niekro, Major League Baseball baseball Bulldog at Bridgeport High School, who, with brother Phil, winningest brother combination in MLB history.
Bobby Douglas, wrestled on State Championship of Ohio (1959) team at Bridgeport High School, Olympic wrestler and Olympic and Iowa State University wrestling coach, National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Distinguished scientists, artists, businessmen, philanthropists, politicians:

Bridgeport was the birthplace of John Todd Zimmer, leading American ornithologist.
Birthplace and boyhood home of Joseph Henry Sharp, 1859-1953, eminent painter, and "Father" of Taos New Mexico Art Colony.
Home of Earl W. Oglebay donor of Oglebay Park to the city of Wheeling in 1926; owner of the Oglebay-Norton Company.
Birthplace of Rep. Charles A. "Charlie" Wilson, Democratic Member of Congress for the 6th District of Ohio
E.M. Statler, "Father of the American Hotel", founder of the Statler Hotel chain, spent his boyhood years here.